As Official Partner Country of the Internationale Tourismus-Borse Berlin - or more familiarly known as ITB Berlin - Indonesia will be strongly featured not only around the venue at Messe Berlin but also around the German capital city itself .
ITB Berlin, recognized as the world’s largest travel trade expo, will take place for five days from March 6-10 at the Messe Berlin International Convention Center, with three days for the trade, and the weekend open to the public.
Indonesia is the first Asian country named Official Partner of this collosal fair. ITB Berlin 2013 is estimated to attract more than 170,000 visitors, among whom are already confirmed, some 113,000 trade visitors and 11,000 exhibitors from 180 countries.
Participating for the 45th time since 1967, Indonesia has continued to play a significant role at ITB throughout the years.
Huge balihoos, balloons, and banners around Messe Berlin will call the attention of the thousands of the world’s travel industry present, the media, and the public to the many attractions of the Indonesian archipelago, with velotaxis carrying the logo of Wonderful Indonesia wherever they ply .
Indonesia’s President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is expected to be present at ITB to attend the Opening Ceremony of ITB 2013 on March 5, which is also scheduled to be graced by German Chancellor HE Angela Merkel; Indonesia’s Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy, HE Dr. Mari Pangestu; Governing Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit; President and CEO of ITB Berlin, Raimund Hosch; and over 4,500 distinguished invitees, delegates, and members of the press.
As co-host of the Opening Dinner, Indonesia’s cultural troupes from a number of provinces and musicians as well as master chefs from Indonesia will be specially flown in to provide that exquisite Indonesian atmosphere and warm hospitality to the Opening Dinner.
Guests and delegates to the Opening Dinner will be warmly welcomed by traditional dancers from Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), and the fabled island of Bali, who will perform Indonesia’s dramatic and colorful dances and music. Dancers from the province of Aceh will perform the highly synchronized Saman Dance, a UNESCO Intangible World Cultural Heritage.
Meanwhile, Indonesian master chefs will be preparing special Indonesian cuisine, among which the highly popular Beef Rendang - voted most popular dish in the world by cnngo followers - beef and chicken satay skewers, Indonesian nasi goreng, and special desserts. Then topping off the unforgettable evening will be the country’s specially flown in aromatic Arabica coffee from the highlands of Toraja in South Sulawesi, the highlands of Gayo in Aceh, as well as from Bali, Flores, and Lampung coffee.
Meanwhile at the Humboldt Box Museum, the public will be able to enjoy a unique exhibition of Indonesia’s intricate traditional hand-woven cloths and batik from around the archipelago, the private collection of Indonesia’s First Lady, Ani Yudhoyono.
The Indonesian Pavilion
While at the Messe Berlin Hall Exhibition Hall itself, situated in Hall 26A, the Indonesian Pavilion has taken 542 square meters of space.
On the morning of March 6, Indonesian Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy, HE Dr. Mari Elka Pangestu, will officially declare the Indonesian Pavilion open.
Highlighting the Indonesian pavilion at its entrance will be a huge traditional Bugis Sulawesi Phinisi schooner, proof of Indonesia’s centuries’ old love for sailing the wide oceans and skillful seamanship as well as a long culture of caring for a sustained marine environment.
Until this very day, building of these sturdy and majestic phinisi boats can still be seen along the Bulukumba and Bira beaches in South Sulawesi. Here master craftsmen construct these wooden boats following the tried and true unwritten tradition and knowledge that have been handed down through the generations.
Today phinisi boats are still used for inter-island transportation of cargo to small and remote islands, or are converted into live-aboards for divers to sail to the fabulous Raja Ampat, Bunaken, Derawan, and the Komodo and Wakatobi National Parks in Eastern Indonesia.
Today phinisi boats are still used for inter-island transportation of cargo to small and remote islands, or are converted into live-aboards for divers to sail to the fabulous Raja Ampat, Bunaken, Derawan, and the Komodo and Wakatobi National Parks in Eastern Indonesia.
Dancers from Makassar, capital of South Sulawesi will also perform the Pakarena dance that is normally danced only for royal guests.
In the Indonesian Pavilion, officials from Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, officials from the provinces of Bali, West Sumatra, East Kalimantan, Bangka-Belitung, North Sulawesi, Papua, and Jakarta will all be on hand to provide information on the provinces’ many attractions, tourism developments, and investment opportunities, as well as answer any questions from the trade and the public.
At the same time, 91 companies, hailing from many parts of the Indonesian archipelago and offering all tourism services, will be ready to make business-to-business contacts with German and other international tour operators, airlines, and the worldwide travel industry.
They will also be only too pleased to answer questions from the public on family holidays in Indonesia, from luxurious resorts, to diving with turtles and manta rays, surfing the large wave-barrels of Nias or Bali, to adventure tours meeting orangutans at Tanjung Puting in Central Kalimantan, getting close to the Komodo dragons, or climbing the rugged volcanos of Mt.Rinjani on Lombok to scaling the heights of Mt. Bromo in East Java.
Indonesia’s own Garuda Indonesia has also taken a special booth next to the main Indonesian Pavilion to serve the travel industry and the public with international flights to and from Indonesia, or for domestic flights to multiple destinations.
And, after a busy day of business and searching for best holiday destinations, visitors to the Indonesian Pavilion are invited to experience a soothing massage. The Sari Ayu Spa will present Indonesia’s famous spa treatment using traditional aromatic spices that have for centuries beautified the ladies of the courts of Bali, Yogyakarta, and Solo.
And, after a busy day of business and searching for best holiday destinations, visitors to the Indonesian Pavilion are invited to experience a soothing massage. The Sari Ayu Spa will present Indonesia’s famous spa treatment using traditional aromatic spices that have for centuries beautified the ladies of the courts of Bali, Yogyakarta, and Solo.
In Hall 4.1, Indonesian companies will offer adventure tours, carrying the theme “Mangrove and Responsible Tourism and Waterland.”
The Accor hotels chain will also host a cocktail party at the Global Booth in Hall 9, presenting the rapid development of Accor hotels throughout the Indonesian islands.
At the Indonesian press conference on March 7, the Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy, HE Dr. Mari Pangestu, together with the CEO of Accor worldwide, and the CEO of Garuda Indonesia Airlines, will present Wonderful Indonesia as the World’s Heart of Wonders.
Check out www.indonesia.travel for the latest updates on news, attractions, and activities during Indonesia’s presence at ITB Berlin 2013. (eTurboNews)
No comments:
Post a Comment
your comments are now being moderated